The contest featured 19 original cookie creations judged on appearance, taste, and texture. Deb Gruber of Slatington, Penn., won the top $100 prize with a Hawaiian cookie filled with whipped topping and covered with coconut, chopped nuts, and pineapple.

Our interest was piqued by Sara Kurtz of Emmaus, Penn., and her Chocolate Chip Nutella Bar. The treat was described by Kelly Huth of the Express-Times of Pennsylvania:

“There was a fudgy brownie-cookie mash-up with walnuts and fudge and caramel and every other possible bad-for-you-thing they could throw in a cookie. Holy mackerel, that was good. I gave that one a full score.”